tigecycline
Brand names: Tygacil
Tigecycline is an antibiotic medicine. It fights bacteria in your body to treat certain infections.
What it does
Tigecycline treats complicated skin infections, infections inside the belly, and community-acquired pneumonia.
Common side effects
Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea
Key warnings
Tigecycline may increase the risk of death compared to other antibiotics.
How It Works
Tigecycline stops bacteria from growing. It does this by interfering with how the bacteria makes proteins. This helps your body fight off the infection.
How to Take It
You will receive tigecycline through a needle in your vein (IV). The first dose is 100 mg, then 50 mg every 12 hours. Each IV dose takes 30 to 60 minutes. Treatment usually lasts 5 to 14 days, depending on the infection.
Pregnancy & Breastfeeding
Tigecycline can cause permanent tooth discoloration and bone growth problems in babies. Avoid taking tigecycline during the second and third trimesters of pregnancy. Do not breastfeed for more than 3 weeks while taking tigecycline.
Missed Dose
Since tigecycline is given by a healthcare provider, you are unlikely to miss a dose. If you are concerned, talk to your doctor.
Storage
Before mixing, store tigecycline at room temperature.
Side Effects (from patient reports)
Based on 3,437 FDA adverse event reports.
FDA Adverse Event Report Analysis
Detailed analysis of 5,878 reports from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS). Reports span 2005–2025.
Total Reports
5,878
Death-Related Reports
1,597
Hospitalization Reports
2,363
Top Indication
Product Used For Unknown Indication
Gender Distribution
Age Distribution
Most Reported Adverse Reactions (FAERS)
| # | Reaction | Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | DRUG INEFFECTIVE | 720 |
| 2 | OFF LABEL USE | 649 |
| 3 | NAUSEA | 390 |
| 4 | VOMITING | 267 |
| 5 | SEPSIS | 265 |
| 6 | THROMBOCYTOPENIA | 254 |
| 7 | DEATH | 252 |
| 8 | SEPTIC SHOCK | 227 |
| 9 | DRUG RESISTANCE | 210 |
| 10 | DIARRHOEA | 202 |
| 11 | PATHOGEN RESISTANCE | 202 |
| 12 | COAGULOPATHY | 195 |
| 13 | CONDITION AGGRAVATED | 190 |
| 14 | PLATELET COUNT DECREASED | 167 |
| 15 | PRODUCT USE IN UNAPPROVED INDICATION | 167 |
Reactions in Death Reports
Reactions in Hospitalization Reports
Source: FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) FDA FAERS (Adverse Event Reporting System) Reports are voluntary and do not establish causation
Serious Warnings
Tigecycline may increase the risk of death compared to other antibiotics. Because of this, only use tigecycline when other treatments are not suitable.
Known Drug Interactions
( 7.1 ) Calcineurin Inhibitors: Serum concentrations of calcineurin inhibitors (e.g., tacrolimus, cyclosporine) should be monitored during treatment with tigecycline for injection due to risk of toxicity. 7.2 Calcineurin Inhibitors Concomitant use of tigecycline for injection and calcineurin inhibitors such as tacrolimus or cyclosporine may lead to an increase in serum trough concentrations of the calcineurin inhibitors.
Mechanism: Tigecycline can cause the amount of cyclosporine in your blood to increase to unsafe levels.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood levels often to make sure the dose is safe and to prevent toxicity.
Table 2: Examples of CYP450 Interactions with Warfarin Enzyme Inhibitors Inducers CYP2C9 amiodarone, capecitabine, cotrimoxazole, etravirine, fluconazole, fluvastatin, fluvoxamine, metronidazole, miconazole, oxandrolone, sulfinpyrazone, tigecycline, voriconazole, zafirlukast aprepitant, bosentan, carbamazepine, phenobarbital, rifampin CYP1A2 acyclovir, allopurinol, caffeine, cimetidine, ciprofloxacin, disulfiram, enoxacin, famotidine, fluvoxamine, methoxsalen, mexiletine, norfloxacin, oral contraceptives, phenylpropanolamine, propafenone, propranolol, terbinafine, thiabendazole, ticlopidine...
Mechanism: Tigecycline blocks the liver enzyme that normally breaks down warfarin. This causes warfarin to stay in your system longer, which can make your blood too thin and increase the risk of bleeding.
What to do: Your doctor should check your blood clotting levels more often. They may need to lower your warfarin dose while you are taking this antibiotic.
Common Questions
What should I tell my doctor before taking tigecycline?
Can tigecycline affect my liver?
Can tigecycline cause diarrhea?
Will tigecycline affect my blood?
Can tigecycline affect my teeth?
What if I have liver problems?
Can I take tigecycline if I'm breastfeeding?
Does tigecycline interact with other medicines?
Can tigecycline cause an allergic reaction?
What if I get pancreatitis?
What are the common side effects of tigecycline?
Does tigecycline interact with other medications?
What drug class is tigecycline?
Is tigecycline safe during pregnancy?
Related Medications in Glycylcycline Antibiotic
Other drugs grouped near tigecycline — same-class peers and common alternatives.
amikacin
Amikin
Amikacin is an antibiotic medicine.
Compare with tigecycline →
amoxicillin
Amoxil
Amoxicillin and Clavulanate Potassium is a combination medicine used to fight bacterial infections.
Compare with tigecycline →
amoxicillin/clavulanate
Augmentin
Augmentin is a combination of two medicines, amoxicillin and clavulanate.
Compare with tigecycline →
ampicillin/sulbactam
Unasyn
Unasyn is a combination of two antibiotics that fights bacteria in your body.
Compare with tigecycline →
azithromycin
Zithromax, Z-Pack
Azithromycin is an antibiotic that fights bacteria.
Compare with tigecycline →
Medication Guides
Understanding Drug Interactions
How CYP450 enzymes, inhibitors, and inducers affect your medications
Generic vs Brand Name Drugs
FDA requirements, cost savings, and when the difference matters
Narrow Therapeutic Index Drugs
Why some drugs demand precise dosing and monitoring
Common Drug Interactions
Dangerous medication combinations and how to protect yourself
Related Health & Safety Data
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What the FDA Data Shows for tigecycline
The FDA label for tigecycline (sold under brand names such as Tygacil) classifies it as a prescription-only medication in the Glycylcycline Antibiotic class. Tigecycline treats complicated skin infections, infections inside the belly, and community-acquired pneumonia. Official labeling lists 5 commonly reported side effects, including Nausea, Vomiting, Diarrhea.
Post-market surveillance from the FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) captures real-world experience. For this drug, FAERS contains 3,437 voluntary reports. The database also lists 2 documented drug interactions derived from FDA labeling, with the top-flagged interaction rated moderate severity. Acquisition-cost data is surveyed weekly by CMS and updated as manufacturers report changes.
Report counts do not establish causation — a FAERS entry documents a temporal association, not proof that the drug produced the outcome. Widely prescribed medications naturally accumulate more reports than niche therapies, so raw totals must be interpreted alongside total exposure. Shortage status, recall history, and patent information further shape supply and switching decisions. This page summarizes public FDA data for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice — always consult a licensed healthcare provider before starting, stopping, or changing any medication.
Data Sources
Drug labeling: FDA Drug Labels (SPL/DailyMed). Adverse events: FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS).
FAERS reports are voluntary and do not establish causation. Drug interactions are derived from FDA labeling and clinical references. Always consult a healthcare professional before making medication decisions.
Last updated: January 6, 2026
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
All federal data sources used on this page
- FDA Orange Book — approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence. accessdata.fda.gov/cder/ob
- FDA DailyMed — NIH-hosted drug labeling for FDA-approved meds. dailymed.nlm.nih.gov
- FDA Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) — post-marketing safety surveillance. fda.gov/drugs/faers
- NLM RxNorm — standardized clinical drug nomenclature. nlm.nih.gov/research/umls/rxnorm
- CMS Medicare Part B Drug Average Sales Price Files — federal drug pricing data. cms.gov/medicare/part-b-drugs/asp
- FDA Drug Shortages Database — current and resolved drug shortage tracking. accessdata.fda.gov/drugshortages